In the majority of cases, antibiotics can successfully treat staph infections.
However, some cases can be resistant and even life-threatening.
Sometimes, a fever is present and the infected skin may drain pus.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
If the staph bacteria enter the bloodstream,sepsismay develop, which is very serious and potentially fatal.
Besides living on people, staph can live on objects, such as doorknobs or athletic equipment.
That said, colonization is not the same as an infection.
Being colonized with staph causes no symptoms.
On the other hand, when staph enters the body causing an infection, symptoms do occur.
While anyone can develop a staph infection, there are factors that increase a person’s risk.
History and Physical Examination
The history and physical examination will be tailored to your unique symptoms.
Culture and Other Tests
A bacterialcultureis used to definitively diagnose a skin infection triggered by staph bacteria.
Treatment
Once diagnosed with a staph infection, antibiotic therapy is the mainstay treatment.
These bacteria are calledmethicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA).
Hospital-acquired MRSA infectionsare usually serious and potentially life-threatening.
They require treatment with an intravenous antibiotic like Vancocin (vancomycin) or Cubicin (daptomycin).
Community-acquired MRSA infectionstend to not be as serious or fatal.
They can often be treated with oral antibiotics, like Bactrim (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) or Cleocin (clindamycin).
For an infected bone or prosthetic joint,surgical debridementis required along with antibiotics.
Surgical decompression, along with antibiotics, is used to treat staph epidural abscesses.
Prevention
Good hand and personal hygiene are at the crux of preventing staph infections.
Disposable equipment, such as disposable stethoscopes, are also commonly used.
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